Service connecter



- Dec. 8, 1936. G. J. Mr-:UE'R ET Al. 2,063,045

SERVICE CONNECTER Filed July J16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented i Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SERVICE CONNECTER Application July 16, 1934, Serial No. 735,443

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in service connecters for electrical devices and more particularly to improvements in service connecters for electric refrigerators.

The various electrical devices employed in an electric refrigerator, including the compressor motor and its temperature responsive automatic control and a lamp for illuminating the interior of the refrigerator upon opening the refrigerator door, present a problem in providing a simple and convenient arrangement for connecting the same to a source of current supply. Connecter devices havebeen proposed having terminal elements to provide for connection of a pair of wires to the positive and negative lines, respectively, of a current supply source. In order to connect the electrical devices to the current supply it is necessary to splice the separate wires from each of the devices to the two wires of the connecter, necessitating the inconvenience and inefficiency of splicing, soldering and taping these connections. 'I'hese splicedconnections may be more or less widely separated, or if, as has been proposed, a recess is provided in the cord receiving end of the connecter to accommodate the taped connections, the splicing, soldering and taping is required to be accomplished in a limited space, making these operations and the insertion of the knot of taped wires into the connecter very awkward and inefllcient. In either case, the connections are potential sources of trouble, due to faulty splicing or other causes, which are dicult to trace.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connecter device which will overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and difficulties.

Another object is to provide a device of the aforementioned character in which terminal elements are provided, such terminal elements being so combined and related as to provide for convenient connection of all of the electrical devices of a refrigerator to a current supply source and/or to each other without the necessity for spliced connections.

Another object is to provide a connecter device which is simple and inexpensive in construction.

Another object is to provide a connecter device having parts constructed and arranged to facilitate assembly thereof.

Another object is to provide a connecter device having terminal and contact elements of improved and simplied construction.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

'I'he accompanying drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that these embodiments are susceptible of modification without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the Contact blade and cord receiving end of a convnecter embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inner end of the base portion of the connecter shown in Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the terminal elements thereon.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lamp receiving end of the connecter.

Fig.. 4 is a perspective view of the connecter with parts thereof `broken away for purposes of illustration; a typical refrigerator electrical system being shown diagrammatically in connection therewith to illustrate the manner in which the same is employed.

Fig. 5 is a section on linev 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner of attachment of the connecter shown in Figs. 1 to 5 to a refrigerator motor control casing.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cord receiving end of a modified form of connecter embodying our invention.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates diagrammatically a refrigerator electrical system similar to that of Fig. 4, showing the manner of employment of the connecter illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, one part only of the two part insulating casing of said connecter being shown for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 10'is a section on line lll-I0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a flat developmentof a lamp screw shell and of the ring type lamp contact used in the connecter shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 a're views partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the manner of cooperation between the ring contact and the threads of the lamp screw shell; the sections of the ring being taken on lines I2-I2, I3-I3 and N-IA, respectively, of Fig. 1l.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the numeral I designates a connecter, the parts of which include a molded insulating base 2 of cylindrical form. Said base is provided in its outer face with a circular recess 3 which is of reduced diameter at its inner end, forming an annular shoulder 4 substantially midway between the outer end and the bottom Wall of said recess. Adapted to seat Within the recess 3 upon the diametrically opposed outwardly projecting bosses 5 and 6 on the annular'shoulder 4 is a punched sheet metal, ring-shaped contact member l. The inner edge of the ring 1 is provided with a substantially rectangular notch s to provide for the reception of the thread of a lamp screw shell, and the area 9 radial to said notchy is bent as shown in Figs. 11 vand 13 to offset the I adjacent ends'of the inner edge of said ring.

As best shown in Figs. 11 to '14 the ring 'I-is formed in a wave-like manner to provide for engagement of the inner edge thereof at a plurality of spaced points with opposite sides and opposite walls of the thread -of a lamp screw shell I0, which provides for relatively rigid support of a lamp II and insures intimate electrical set portion of contact I3 is located substantially 'is adapted to receive the inwardly offset portion of a center lamp contact I3. The outwardly offcentrally of the bottom wall of recess 3.

@said screwserving to holdsaid base, ring and- The inner face of base 2 is provided with a y relatively shallow circular recess I4, the bottom wall of which is provided with the recesses I5, I6 and II, the latter being adaptedv to receive the terminal elements I8, I9 and 26, respectively. The terminal I 8is provided with a threaded opening adjacent to each end thereof, one of said openings being arranged to receive a binding screw 2| and the other` being arranged to receive the threaded end of a screw 22, the head of which abuts -againstthe outer face of ring l and the shank of which penetrates alined openings inr said ring and in theY base 2 through the boss 5,

terminal in assembled relation-and also lto provide an electrical connection between said ring and said terminal. 'I'he ring 'I is further secured to base 2 by a screw 23, the head of which is seated in a circular recess inthe bottom wallvof recess I4 and the threaded shank of which penetrates an opening in the base 2 through the boss 6 and threads into a` threaded opening in said ring.

TheI terminals I9 and 28 are of like form and one end of Veach comprises a' substantially rectangular portion which is adapted to overlie the horizontally bent foot of each of -the contacts' 24 and 25. The rectangular portions of the terminals I9 and 26 are provided with threaded openings located centrally thereof. The head of a screw 26 abuts the inwardly offset portion of the center lamp contact I3 and the threaded shank thereof penetrates alined openings'in said contact, in the wall separating recesses I2 and I6 and in the foot of contact 24, taking into the threaded opening in the rectangular portion of terminal I9, thus holding said center lamp contact, the contact 24,'the terminal I9 and base-2 in assembled relation and also providing an electrical connection between the lamp contact I3 and the terminal I9. The terminal 26 and the contact 25 are`held in assembled relation with the base 2 by a screw 2T, the head oi' which is seated. in a recess in the bottom wall of recess 3-and ,the threaded shank of which penetrates alined openings in the wall separating recess 3 and terminal recess I 'I and in the foot of contact 25, and .takes into the threaded opening in the rectangular portion of terminal 20. The contacts 24 and 25 are locateddiametrically opposite'to each other a short distance to either side ofthe axis of base 2, the vertically-projecting ybled relation with .said base.

vportions ofsaid contacts being bowed toward .each vother intermediate their ends to provide for resilient and intimate engagement'4 with a pair of contact blades. v y

The opposite .ends of terminals I9 and 26'com- Y prise substantially circular portions which are joined tosaid rectangular portions by narrow necks, said circular portions having threaded openings locatedcentrally thereof and adapted to receive the binding screws-'28 and' 29. Suit' able recesses (not shown) are provided in the bottom walls of the terminal recesses I5, I6 and II for the accommodation of the shanks of binding screws 2|, 28 and 23.

A molded insulating cover member 36 of circular form is adapted to overlie thevterminals I8, I9 and 26, said cover member having a pair of rectangularentrance passages'3l and 32 extending therethrough, the inner portions of said passages being enlarged to provide shoulders'beneath which the vupper ends of the contacts 24 and 25 are located to -preven't fouling of the latter by the plug lacks which are adapted to cooperate therewith. 'The coverf36 is secured to base v 2 by the screws 33-and 3Ll the threaded shanks of which penetrate openings in said cover and take into the'tubular internally vthreaded elements periphery of-base 2 while the element 36 is 4located between the contact 25 and the periphery of said base. Said elements; are of like form, beins provided at their outer ends with the sho'ul ders 31 vwhich' are adapted to seat within shallow recesses in the bottom wall of 'recess 3, the

tubular portions of said elements penetrating openings extending through-the wall between the recess 3 and the recess I4 in base 2, the same being upset at their inner .ends over the'bottom wall of recess I4 to hold said elements lThe outer face ofthe cover 36 is provided with an annular recess/'38,which is adapted to receive vvlan annular projection 39 on the enclosing case foot portion and in cover 30 and takes aintothe tubular element 35 as aforementioned. A subeV stantially rectangular recess is provided :in the upper face of cover 36 adjacent to the periphery `thereof to receive the foot portion of .bracket 4I,

the peripheral rim 42 surrounding the recess 36 terminating atthe sides of said recess to accommodate said bracket as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.`

The outwardly projecting-portion 43 of bracket 4I is substantially parallel to the axis of the connecter I, said projecting portion being bent at an angle of vsubstantially ninety degrees with respect to the foot of said bracket. The projecting portion 43 o! the bracket 4I is provided with a threaded opening 44 fortheA reception of `the threaded-shank of a screw 45, v

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the binding screws 2I 28 and 29 are closely grouped adjacent to the .periphery of base 2. The cover 36 is provided substantially in alinement with the binding screw on opposite sides of said opening. 'I'he wiresf4-1.

in assemcel , with a relatively large opening 46 which is located 48 and 49 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, the same being actually brought through the opening 46 and connected to the terminals 20, i9 and I8, respectively, by the binding screws 29, 28 and 2|; said wires being preferably combined in the form of a three-wire conductor cord.

Attachment of the connecter I to the controller case 40 is effected by registering the passages 3| and 32 with the plug jacks 50 and 5I and pressing the connecter into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6 to eect engagement of said jacks with the contacts 24 and 25 in a wellknown manner, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The connecter I is rigidly secured to the case 40 by tightening of the screw 45 against the segmental ridge or projection 39. l

The circuit connections of Fig. 4 are as follows:

One side of the compressor motor M is connected to line L1, the other side being connected to line L2 by the conductor 41, to and through terminal 20, the resilient contact 25, contact blade 5I, through the automatic temperature responsive control 52, contact blade 50, resilient -contact 24, terminal I9, by conductor 48 to line L2. A portion of a refrigerator box is shown schematically at 53 and a portion of a refrigerator door at 54. A normally closed switch 55 (shown schematically) is adapted to be held in open position by the door 54 when the latter is closed. Upon opening the door 54 the switch 55 closes, thus completing a circuit for the lamp II which circuit may be traced from line L1 through the switch 55 by conductor 49 to and throughterminal I8, the screw 22, the ring contact 1, the lamp screw shell I0 and the filament of the lamp I l, through thev center lamp contact I3, the screw 26 and terminal I9 by theconductor 48 to line L.

It is apparent from the foregoingthat connection of the various electrical devices of a refrigerator to a current supply may be simply and conveniently effected by means of the aforedescribed connecter and that the appearance of the wiring will be much neater. It is to be understood that the lamp II will be located within the refrigerator cabinet to be illuminated upon opening of the refrigerator door in the usual manner.

Referring now to Figs. '1 to 10, the same illustrate a connecter 60, which, while differing in appearance from the connecter I, embodies the salient features of our invention.

'I'he connecter 60 comprises a two-part molded insulating casing and the contact and wiring terminal parts which will be hereinafter described. The insulating casing comprises the molded members 6I and 62. a molded-in, internally-threaded insert or nut 63 which is adapted to receive the threaded end of a sc rew 64. The nut or insert 83 is located at the inner end of a circular recess 65 in the member 6I., the wall of said recess having an integral annular flange 65 overlying said insert to retain the latter in position. The inner end of recess 66 is preferably provided with a countersink 66 to receive the head of the screw 64. Clearance openings 61 and 68 for the screw 64 are provided in the members 6I and 62, respectively, the opening 61 terminating at the insert 63 and the opening 68 communicating with the countersink 66B. 'I'he member 6I is further provided with a molded-in tubular, internallythreaded insert 69 as shown in Fig. l0. The insertl 69 is adapted to receive the threaded shank of a 'I'he member 6I is provided with K 69 in member 6I, the latter and member 62 are of like form.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the members 6I. and 62 may be molded ln the same die, certain mechanical parts of the die being interchangeable with other parts in well-known ways to enable the molding-in of the inserts 63 and 89.

The outer surface of each of the casing members 6I and 62 ls substantially semi-cylindrical, the two members forming a substantially cylindrical casing when assembled. The outer end of the casing 6I, 62 is provided with an annular groove 1I which is adapted to receive a split wire ring 12, which, together with the screw 64 holds the casing members in assembled relation'. 'Ihe inner end of the casing 6I, 62 is of reduced diameter to permit entrance thereof into the recess surrounded by the segmental ridge or projection 39 on the refrigerator motor control box 52 shown in Fig. 6.

, The inner face of the casing 6I, 62 is provided with the spaced passages 13 and 14 which communicate with thev longitudinal recesses 15and 16 and are adapted to provide for entrance of the plug jacks 50 and 5I. The recesses 15 and 16 are adapted to receive the reexed resilient contact members 11 and 18. Said contact members are of like form and the same are each provided with an opening to receive a lug on the terminal members 19 and 80, the latter being riveted over' said contact members as shown at 8l and 82 in Fig. 9 to rigidly secure said contact members to said terminal members.

The terminal member 19 is adapted to be received into the recess 63 and is provided with a. threaded opening for reception of the threaded shank of a bindingscrew 84. 'I'he terminal 19 and the inner end of the terminal member 80 are substantially on a plane with the dividing line v)between the assembled casing members 6I and 62. The outwardly extending portion of terminal member 80 is downwardly offset from said plane at the point 86 to rest upon the ledge 81 as shown in Figs. 9 and l0. The terminal member 80 is provided with a threaded opening adjacent to each end thereof to receive the threaded shanks of binding screws 88 and 89. Recesses are provided in the casing sections to accommodate the shanks of binding screws 84, 88 and 89 as shown in connection with the latter at 90 in Fig. 10.

The'casing 6I, 62 is provided in its upper end with a wiring cavity 9| to which entrance vof the necessary wires is provided by the substantially elliptical opening 93. The insulating vbarriers 94 and 95 are formed in the casing members 6I and 62, respectively, the barrier 94 being disposed between the terminal 19 and the terminal 96, while the barrier 95 is disposed between the binding screws 88 and 89 of terminal 80.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the terminal 96 comprises a pair of cup washers, one being superposed upon the other, an arrangement which facilitates connection of the lamp II to line L1.

The circuit connections of Fig. 9 are as follows:

One side of the compressor motor is connected to line L1, the other side being connected to line L2 by the conductor 91, to and through the terminal 19, the resilient contact 11, plug jack 50. through the automatic-temperature responsive control 52, plug jack 5I, resilient contact 16, tof- .type ldisclosed in the pending application of mally closed switch 55 is adapted to be held in open position by a door 54 when the latter is closed. The switch 55 closes when the door 54 is opened, thus completing a circuit -for lamp il which circuit may be traced fromv line L1 to and through the terminal 96, by conductor 99 to lamp il, through switch 55,v by conductor |00, through terminal 8|), by conductor 98 to line L.

The two embodimentsof our invention illustrated bythe accompanying drawings and described herein fulll the stated objects in that vamong other features the. construction of the connecters is simple, the parts thereof are so formed as to facilitate assembly thereof, and the same are arranged to.provide convenient means for eifecting the necessary wiring connections.

While both forms of connecter .may be employed to generally attain the same end, each is. peculiarly adapted for use in a particular type of installation.' Thus the connecter l may be employed where the controller 52 is so located in the refrigerator that the desired illumination of the interior of the cabinet is provided if the lamp is directly associated with the controller. If, however, it is more feasible or more desirable due tothe location of the controller 52 or for other reasons to locate the lamp at a point removed from the controller, the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 9 may be employed.

The automatic temperature responsive, control 52 Aindicated in Figs. 4, 6 and 9 may be of the Clarence W. Kuhn, Serial No. 708,804, led Jan- -uary 29, 1934. f

What we claim as new .and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f

1. A service connecter for electricrefrlgerators and the like comprisinga pair of substantially semi-cylindrical molded insulating members of like shape and ldimensions, said members having pairs of complementary recesses formed therein,

plug jack receiving contacts located in said recesses, wiringterminal members attached to the inner ends of said contacts, one of said wiring terminal members comprising a plate having a binding screw associated therewith, the other of said .wiring terminal members comprising a relatively long plate having a binding screw associated with each'of the opposite ends thereof, one of said insulating members having an internally threaded member attached thereto, a` binding screw cooperating with said last-mentioned member, a pair of perforated sheet metal members carried by said screw and respectively adapted for clamping engagement with a pair of terminal wires to provide a common electrical connection for the latter, said insulating members having complementary recesses formed to the inner ends of said contacts, one of said wiring terminal members comprising a plate having a binding screw in threaded engagement threwith, the other of 'said wiring terminal members comprising a ilatively longer plate, one end of which is attached to its associated contact and the' other end of which extends binding screw, complementary recesses formed in the respective insulating members and adapted I to form a wiring cavity and a conductor passage communicating with said cavity, all of said wiring terminal members being located upon one of said insulating members and being readily accessible upon separation of the latter from the other member, an additional threaded insert carried by one of saidinsulating members adjacent to-the `inner end thereof, a screw penetrating each of said members and having threaded egagement with said insert, said members having alined external semi-circular grooves formed therein adjacent to the outer ends thereof, and

a split wire ring forcibly insertable'into said grooves to assist in retaining said members in assembled relation.

3. As an article of manufacture, a plug connecter comprising a. pair of molded insulating members having pairs of complementary recesses formed therein, resilient plug Jack engaging contacts located within said recesses, said contacts each having an arm extending rearwardly therefrom, a wiringterminal member attached to the rearwardly extending arm of each of said contacts, o'ne of said wiring terminal members comprising a plate having a binding screw in threaded engagement therewith, the other wiringterminal member comprising a relatively longer plate having inner and outer end portiona'said portions being offset in different planes relatively to each other, binding screws in threaded engagement with the opposite end portions of said last-mentioned plate, said contacts and wiring terminal members being removably insertable into the aforementioned recesses in one of said insulating members and frictionally engaged with the walls of said recesses to facilitate wiring of said members, said insulating members being adapted to positively retain said contacts and wiring terminal members in their `proper positions when all of said parts are in lmembers of like shape and dimensions, said assembled relation, an additional wiring terminal ,member comprising an internally threaded insert carried by one of said insulating members, a binding screw having threaded engagement with said insert, a' pair of cup washers carried by said binding screw, all of said wiring terminal members being located upon one of said insulating members and being readily accessible upon separation of the latter from the other member, additional' complementary recesses formed in the respective insulating members and adapted to form a .wiring cavity and a conductor passage commu- I nicating with said cavity, a threaded insert carried by one of said insulating members adjacent 'zol grooves to assist in retaining said members in assembled relation. l

4. A plug connecter comprising a two-part molded insulating casing adapted to be plugged onto a pair of plug jacks, said casing enclosing a pair of resilient contacts adapted for cooperative engagement with the plug jacks, a terminal member associated with one of said contacts and adapted for connection to a translating device of suitable form, a second terminal member associated with the other of said contacts, said second terminal member being. adapted for connection with a, suitable source of current supply, and a third terminal member, said third terminal member cooperating with said second terminal member to provide for completion of a circuit independently of said first mentioned terminal member, all of said contacts and said wiring ter-A minal members being concealed by said two-part casing upon assembly of th'e latter.4

5. A service connecter attachment for electric refrigerators comprising a two-part molded insulating casing having a `wiring cavity formed by and located between the casing parts, said casing having formed therein a conductor passage communicating with said cavity, at least three Wiring terminal members located within said cavity, a pair of plug jack engaging contacts directly connected electrically and mechanically with two of said terminals respectively, said cas- 'pendently of the other of said twoy terminal members.

6. A service connecter attachment for electric refrigerators comprising a longitudinally divided,

`two-part molded insulating casing having a wiring cavity formed by and located between the respective casing parts, said casing parts being complementally formed to provide a conductor passage communicating with said cavity, three wiring terminal members located in spaced relation to each other within said cavity, said casing parts having pairs of complementary recesses formed therein, a pair of plug jack receiving contacts located within said recesses for cooperative engagement with a pair of plug jacks, and means including two of said Wiring terminal members to provide for connection of a translating device to a source of current supply independently of said plug jack receiving contacts.

GEORGE J. MEUER.

RALPH MILLERlVLAS'I'lIR. 

